BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 357
88R1782 DIO-D	By: Bucy et al. (Hughes)
	State Affairs
	5/10/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 357 amends current law relating to the requirements to access the online tracker of an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 86.015(b), Election Code, as follows:

(b) Requires that the online tool developed or provided under Subsection (a) (relating to requiring the secretary of state to develop or otherwise provide an online tool to each early voting clerk that enables a person who submits an application for a ballot to be voted by mail to track the location and status of the person's application and ballot on certain official Internet websites), require the voter to provide, before permitting the voter to access information described by that subsection:

(1) the voter's name and date of birth, rather than the voter's name and registration address and the last four digits of the voter's social security number; and

(2) the voter's driver's license number, the voter's personal identification card number issued by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, or the last four digits of the voter's social security number.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.